The organisation was created in October in retaliation to a plan to build 14 centres for roughly 2,000 refugees in Dresden and it has been criticised by many, who argue it is "dangerous" and could "tarnish Germany's reputation".

Pegida has taken steps to distance itself from neo-Nazi groups in the country. On its Facebook page it states that its aim is to ensure "German children can grow up in a cosmopolitan and friendly nation" and it "refuses to allow the spread of activities by groups such as [Islamic State] and al-Qaeda in Europe."

However, some fear the rallies are also drawing far-right supporters and sympathisers.

Last December, Merkel publicly condemned all forms of xenophobia and warned Pegida demonstrators to "watch out that they are not instrumentalised by the organisers."